Wire-cable well-drilling device



' 1,821, March 15, 1927. Fr F. DAVIS 19] WIRE CABLE WELL DRILLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 19, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwvewtoz GU 0: new

15 1927. r 1,621,191 March F. F. DAVIS WIRE CABLE WELL DRILLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 19, 1924 2 Sheeta-She ef 2 Iii) Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS FALCONER DAVIS, 01: SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO FRANCIS HARLEY DAVIS, OF SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA.

WIRE-CABLE WELL-DRILLIN G DEVICE.

Application filed December My invention relates broadly to cable drilling machinery, but refers more particularly to portable drilling rigs used for spudding-in shallow water wells, quarry blast-holes, and the like; such rigs as customarily have a derrick or mast provided with a crown sheave at or near the top thereof for the support and service of the tool-carrying cable.

Specifically my device may be classed as what, in driller parlance is known as, a cracker, several formsof which are known to the prior art, but in relation to which my device to the best of my belief is a novelty and beyond doubt an improvement.

A cracker device is for use when drilling with the nonelastic steel wire cable instead of the elastic fibre cable largely in use at present. It consists of a fibre cordage member interposed at some point between the drilling tool and the spudding beam so as to deaden the shock that attends drilling when steel wire cable is used as the tool carricr.

One, and the most successful form of cracker at present in use consists of a length of manila cable or hawser, about one hundred feet long, whose lower end is attached to the drill and the upper end thereof attached to the lower end of the wire cable. lVith a cracker of this length which however is obviously inadmissible in shallow holes a satisfactory simulation of a cordage-carried drill can be secured even tho the remainder of the cable leading from the top of the cracker to the winding drum be non-elastic. There are also derrick-mounted crackers which operate with more or less measure of success but which fail to meetthe full requirements of the case principally because they use up so much of the space afforded by the limited height of afiportable derrick in non-elastic members that there is not sufticient space left for the application of an adequate amount of fiber cracker to meet the needs; whereas, with my device every avail able inch of derrick is utilized for the purpose. By the use of the present cracker coupled with a judicious application of my novel tension means, a perfect simulationof the drilling action of a Cordage-carried drill can be attained, -etc., by the use of which, coupled with a judicious application of my novel tension means a perfect simulation of the d *illing action of a Cordage-carried drill 19, 1924. Serial No. 756,936.

can be attained while wire-line drilling with the added advantage of being able to drill with a rapid drilling motion irrespective of the depth of the hole, the weight of the drill. employed or as to whether or not the drilling is being. done in a wet or a dry hole.

The increasing demand for shallow drillings makes the use of wire cable in lieu of fiber cable so largely in present use a matter of serious importance, wire being less en'- pensive than iiber cordage and longer-lived under the severe stresses which accompany drilling by the spudding process.

The chief object of my invention is to pro vide a drill of the kind described with a novel form and ar angement of elastic cracker-rope for the support of the crown sheave, the said elastic cracker-rope being placed across the upper free end of the derrick in a grooved block and surrounding said free end of derrick, said elastic cracker, furthermore, crossing the derrick completely at a level situated over and above that of the movably-mounted crown sheave which carries the tool-carrying wire cable, and in such manner that when drilling with the cracker apparatus so positioned the said crown sheave and its mountings may be caused to play up and down at a point or points below that of the stationary support of the cracker rope at the head of the derrick.

A further object is to eliminate certain objectionable and expensive rope-sockets in devices of this kind and to substitute an endless, belted form of cracker that needs no rope-sockets but is acted upon by a tension segment pressing against the inner surface of said endless rope.

Another object is to provide an endless elastic cracker device completely surround ing a movably-mounted crown sheave, said crown sheave being adapted for free rotation on its axis and for restricted up and down motion within the orbit of said endless claw tic device and in relation to the longitudinal axis thereof.

Qther objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same,

Figure 1 shows a side elevational view of a drilling machine embodying. my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the mast in elevation showing details of the inventionon a larger scale.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown preferred embodiment of my invention, the

i'iumeral 2 desi 'natesthe drum-shaft of the drilling machine, while the numeral 3 designates the spudding beam, lis th-e crank and 5 the pitman ti" th'e'non-elastic steel wire cable or tool-carrier, '2' the windii'i'g drum, 8 the spadding-sheave, 9 the crowin sheave, 10 the crown-sheaveshaft, 11 the U-bearing, 12 is the spacingpipe', 11 the tension segment, 15 the tension nut, 15 the screw head, 15 the lock-nutand lti'thete'nsion screw, 1.7 is the elastic cracker-rope and 18 the saddle member,

The derrick mast as shown in the figures on their inner surfaces in such manner that when bolted together evenly the grooves will combine to form a hole of circular shape extending centrally throughout the entire length of the derrick timber or mast" so constructed.

Tension segment 11 is secured to spacing pipe 12 by means of tension nut 15 and tension screw 16, said screw 16 being for several feet Ofit len 'th up inside the lower end 01 spacing-pipe 12 whence it can be extended downward so as to bring pressure upon rope 17, screw 16' being revolubly attached to segment 1+1 by means of screw head 15 and lock-nut 15 which are located one on each side ot'the segment bridge 11, the

extreme outer end otscrew'16 is furnished with the shouldered portion 16 which engages with its counterpart hole in the arch ot the segment; as thus arranged screw 16 is free to range in and out of pipe 12 carrying segment 1 1- up and down with it in a station ary manner as regards revolubility.

Grooves 28 are justlong enough to keep the elastic rope 1? in place in the case of saddle member 18,1vhereas, in the case of tension segment 11 they are made so in order to make it easier to place a tightly stretched rope as 17 on the segment, it being advisable to take as much slack as possible out 01 the said rope before placingit.

When tensioning the rope 17 for the support of the weight of the tools screw 16 is backed out of pipe 12 which is done by the manipulation ot the screw head 1:? which causes tllt' said pipe and the crown-sheave 9 above it to take upward movement until the upper surface of nut-15 contacts with that portion of the mast or derrick= designated as 19" which may have a metal abutment member as 19 intervening between the timber of the mast and the uppersurtace of said nut 15, such contact occurs shortly before the crown sheave 9*reaches its upper limit in the slot provided for it 11, wherein it is free to' playup and down under the vibratory drilling influences, as indicated by the dot-ted lines in Figure 1.

In practice rope 17 preparznory to its iii-- stallation' is passed. through between the channels 20 and has its ends spliced together, said rope 1? is new tensioned in the mannerindicated above to a degree that will allow crovn sheave 9 andits bearings to play up and down between the under side of segment 18, or its equivalent, and the shout der of the mast at 19 without touching either'of them, such play taking place in the above mentioned openings slotted in the upper-portion ot'the derrick for that purpose.

In operation, power from a suitable agent is transmitted from drum shaft 2'to the spuddingbeam 3 through the crank 1 and pitman 5 thereby causing beam 3 to oscillate in an up and down direction thus causing the. drill to reciprocate.

The non-elastic wire cable (3 at the same time being fed off drum 7 by a suitable brake means admits of the cable being kept taut, yet at the same time permitting it to gradually-unwind from the said drum as the hole deepens.

Vi hen'the drill begins to actuate, the pressure applied to spudding sheave 8 is transmitted to the non-elastic cable 6 which throws the weight of the drill on crown sheave 9. This, owingto the non-elastic nature of cable 6 throws a heavy jolt on said sheave 9 which jolt is transmitteddownward through crown sheave'shaft 10 to U bearing 11 and thence on down through the spacingpipe 12, and the tension segment 11 to rope 17.

The shock, which we have traced from its initial point sheave 9 through such rigid,

unyielding mediums as above specified, now 1 enters the endless fibre ropeor cracker 17 where it is absorbed before reaching the ultimate point or resistance, namely, the top of the derrick above the crown sheave which may be furnished with a saddle member to accommodate elastic rope 17, or may have suitable grooves provided in the derrick top itself-tor the accon'iniodation ofeaid rope.

The foregoing is a. description of an embodiment 01" my invention but I am aware that changes could be made in it without departingi'rom the spirit thereof, 1 do not therefor wishto be limited in the-scope of my invention beyond such limitations as the scope of the claims import.

lit

I claim,

1. In a well drilling machine of the kind described provided with a derrick-like structure, an elastic cable member supported by the free upper end of structure, a revoluble crown sheave mounted in the derrick-structure beneath said elastic member and adapted for up and down movement between prescribed limits, a rigid spacing means extending from the crown sheave downward toward the lower part of the elastic member, adjustable regulative means engaging said spacing means with said elastic member for suitably tensing the latter according to requirements when drilling with wire cable, the relative arrangement of parts being such that downward movement of the crown sheave produces downward extension of the elastic cable, and vice versa.

A machine of the kind described, com prising in combination, a supporting derrickdike structure, an elastic cable supported by the upper free end of structure, a suitably mounted crown sheave located beneath the said elastic cable, rigid spacing support means extending from the crown sheave downward, adjustable connective i'neans uniting said rigid support means to the lower parts of elastic cable, the said crown sheave revoluble and adapted for pre-determined movement in either direction longitudinally of the derrick-like structure when subjected to the varying stresses of wire cable drilling, the construction and entire arrangement of parts being such that any downward movement of the said crown sheave causes a downward extension of the elastic cable, whereas, an upward sheave movement causes a consequent contraction of said elastic cable.

3. In a well drilling device of the kind described, a derrick-like structure, an elastic belt member supported thereon from the upper end thereof, crown sheave suitably mounted within the circumscribing loop of said elastic member, said sheave revoluble and adapted for limited movement longitudinally of said derrick structure, the lower loop of the endless elastic member co-acting with a spacing means to provide elastic support for the said crown sheave, substantially as described.

4;. A well drilling device of the kind described, comprising in combination, a derrick-like supporting structure, an elastic belt member supported thereby from the free upper end thereof, a suitably mounted crown sheave located within said belt member, said sheave revoluble and adapted for limited movement up and down said derrick-like structure, the lower loop of the belt member co-acting with a tension means and a spacing means to provide elastic floating support for the said crown sheave.

5. In a well drilling device, a derrick-like structure having an elastic cable thereon, a suitably-mounted revoluble crown sheave beneath said elastic cable, a spacing pipe below said sheave and connected therewith, a tension screw with its screw-end housed within lower end of spacing pipe and adapted to range in and out of same, a tension segment freely engaging outer end of said screw, adapted to engage with an elastic rope and apply regulated pressure thereto for the floating support of the crown sheave aforesaid.

6. A well drilling device comprising in combination, a derrick-like structure, a saddle segment at upper end thereof, crown sheave beneath segment, said sheave adapted to accommodate a wire drilling cable and for restricted movement up and down the mast or derrick-like structure, a spacingpipe means below said sheave and connected therewith, a tension screw, screw-end housed within lower end of spacing-pipe means and adapted to range in and out of same, outer end of tension-screw freely engaging an extension means adapted to engage with an elastic rope, adjustment means therefor to apply regulated pressure to an elastic rope for the floating support of the crown sheave aforesaid, substantially as described.

7. In a well drilling machine, a mast centrally perforated for a portion of its lower length a reciprocating spacing means passing therethru, said means supporting a slidably-mounted crown sheave while standing on an elastic support carried by said mast at a point above that of the said crown sheave, upper portion of mast provided with an elongated vertical slot for crown sheave to play up and down in, provided also with another vertical slot at right angles to the former to accommodate crown sheave hearing, both slots adapted to align said sheave and bearing.

8. In a well drilling device and in combi nation, a derrick mast, a revoluble crown sheave slidably mounted in the mast, spacing means extending through a portion of the mast, said means being adapted to support the crown sheave with regulated buoyancy on an elastic element crossing the upper free end of the derrick-mast at a plane above the said crown sheave.

9. In a well drilling machine of the kind described, a derrick or mast, a revoluble crown sheave slidably mounted therein, an elastic belt supported by the free upper end of the derrick and crossing the said derrick in a plane above the crown sheave, the lower bight of the elastic belt crossing transversly through the derrick below the crown sheave, a spacing means between the said sheave and the said lower bight, an abutment means for teasing the elastic belt independently of the said spacing means, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a well drilling machine of the kind described, comprising in combination, a derrick or mast, a slidably mounted crown sheave carried by the mast, said sheave mounted on a spacing means the said means supported on the lower bight of an elastic belt element, the upper bight of the said element crossing the free end of the said mast in a plane above that of the said crown sheave, the said elastic belt element being adapted to be tensed by contacting with an abutment means independently of the said spacing means, substantially as described.

11. In a well drilling machine of the kind described and in coml'iinatioi'i, a derrickmast, a revoluble and slidingly-mountcd crown sheave, the upper bight of an elastic belt crossing the free upper end of the derrick-mast finding anchorage thereon above said crown sheave, said belt passing directly above the crown sheave and its bearings, making no contact therewith and preferably at right angles thereto, the lower bight of the elastic belt crossing transversely thru the derrick-mast below the crown sheave, intervening spacing means between the crown sheave, its bearings and the lower bight of the elastic belt, adjustable tension means between the spacing means and said elastic belt, a contact abutment for tensing the elastic belt independently of spacing means 12, substantially as described.

12. In a well drilling device of the kind described having a supporting derrick-like structure, a revoluble crown sheave slidably mounted in the structure and adapted to play up and down on an elastic supporting member, said elastic member crossing the structure above the crown sheave and provided with retaining means carried by the structure for the purpose of holding the said elastic member in place.

15. A well drilling device of the kind described, comprising in combination, a supporting structure a saddle segment at the upper free end thereof, a crown sheave slidably mounted in the structure beneath the saddle segment, an elastic member supported by the saddle segment, a supporting spacing means below said sheave, the spacing means provided with tension means and a tension segment adapted to apply an elastic support to the crown sheave from said elastic member, both saddle segment and tension segment provided with retaining grooves, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature.

FRANCIS FALGONER DAVIS. 

